Racing: Double Barrel makes it three

Double Barrel has completed a hat-trick of Albany Cup wins for trainer Adam Durrant by winning the $70,000 XXXX Gold Albany Cup on Sunday.

Picture: Jockey Peter Hall brings the Adam Durrant trained Double Barrel (dark blue, white stars) down the outside to snatch victory from outsider Speedymac (pink) and race favorite, Insurgency (maroon with grey band)

In a fantastic 2100m race the lead changed several times in the home straight before thousands of screaming fans.

But it was the top weight Double Barrel that got the nod, piping Speedymac and the favourite Insurgency to give Durrant his third consecutive crown.

After carrying the top weight and jumping from the widest barrier, the Musketeer gelding had to settle well back but a brilliant ride by distance specialist Peter Hall made sure Double Barrel went one better than the Bunbury Cup.

Representing Durrant, Jason Miller said trackside that it was great to win the big race.

“All credit to the horse, he got a good run and produced the goods,” he said.

“I said to the owner before he looks as good as he did the day he ran second in the Bunbury Cup.”

Miller went on to say his last four starts had been super consistent with this a just reward for trainer and owner.

“We needed a lot of luck and we got it but we always thought he would be a big chance,” Miller said. He was full of praise for jockey Hall but also the Albany Racing Club for the track surface.

“It is good to support the club and win a race or two. It is a lovely track and suits a lot of horses but the win makes the trip home a lot easier,” he said.

The seven-year-old showed his class as a staying galloper to deny Speedymac by a short head and Insurgency who battled hard to finish third by a short neck. Hall, who made it a hat-trick of Albany Cup wins also as a result of Sunday’s victory, said if you threw a bit of money up, things could change. “It is really good, I won my first two for Wolfey and now to win for Adam who is one of my best mates is just great,” he said.

“If you chuck a bit of money up the race changes a bit; we were in striking distance at the turn and just toughed it out.”

Owner Ron Beacham said his galloper was slow to mature but had firmed into a versatile horse that got the job done.

Scanned began the running from the gates before Highly Prized led until the turn where Insurgency hit the front.

Hackett’s Heart stormed home late to finish fourth ahead of local outsider Savage Wolfe.